Helichrysum plant named &#39;Harvest Merlot&#39;

ABSTRACT

A plant variety of the  Helichrysum  family resulting from a controlled crossing of the varieties of  Helichrysum bracteatum  ‘Harvest Fire’, the subject of a currently pending U.S. patent application, and  Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum  ‘Raspberry’, the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,929. The outermost involucral bracts of the bud appear as R.H.S. 64 B (red-purple group). The rest of the bracts have an overall appearance of R.H.S. 58 A (red-purple group). The tips of the outer bracts are R.H.S. 187 A (greyed-purple group). The new variety also possesses the commercially desirable characteristics of hardy and attractive leaves and has generally good post harvest characteristics.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Harvest Merlot’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of the Compositae family. The new variety is named Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Harvest Merlot’.

This new Helichrysum variety originated as a seedling from the progeny of a controlled hybridization conducted by the inventor in a commercial nursery in the city of Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay is located in San Mateo County, on the northern coast of California.

The inventor crossed Helichrysum bracteatum ‘Harvest Fire’, the subject of a currently pending U.S. patent application, with Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Raspberry’, the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,929, to produce the new variety. ‘Raspberry’ was the pollen parent, and ‘Harvest Fire’ was the seed parent. The pollen parent ‘Raspberry’ is itself the result of a controlled hybridization. ‘Raspberry’ was produced by crossing Helichrysum bracteatum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Harvest Plum’, the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,742, with Helichrysum bracteatum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Lemon’, the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,976. In the cross that produced ‘Raspberry’, ‘Harvest Plum’ was the seed parent. ‘Harvest Fire’, the seed parent of the new variety, is itself the result of a controlled hybridization. ‘Harvest Fire’ was produced when Helichrysum bracteatum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Raspberry’, the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,929, was crossed with Helichrysum bracteatum (Venten.) Andr. ‘Harvest Nectarine’, the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,834. In the cross that produced ‘Harvest Fire’, ‘Raspberrry’ was the seed parent. The new variety was selected for commercial development because of its unique flower head color, the hardiness and attractiveness of its leaves and its generally good post harvest characteristics.

The new variety is suitable for commercial plant culture because of its long-lasting flowers, attractive coloring and compact growth habit. The desirable and unique combination of characteristics of the new variety include:

the color of its flower head and bud,

its dense and attractive foliage that resists yellowing,

its compact growth habit, and

its ability to grow and thrive as a commercial plant for sale.

The infloresence is made up of a number of involucral bracts, surrounding a disk head. The base of the outer bracts are not pigmented. The pigmentation is the same for both the abaxial and the adaxial sides of the bracts. The outermost involucral bracts of the bud appear as R.H.S. 64 B (red-purple group). The rest of the bracts have an overall appearance of R.H.S. 58 A (red-purple group). The tips of the outer bracts are R.H.S. 187 A (greyed-purple group).

The following table compares the new variety to the closest varieties known to the inventor and its parents.

TABLE 1 ‘Harvest ‘Harvest H. bracteatum ‘Raspberry’ Nectarine’ ‘Harvest ‘Harvest Lemon’ New Variety (general USPP USPP Fire’ patent Plum’ USPP ‘Harvest characteristics) 19,929 10,834 pending USPP 10,742 19,976 Merlot’ Bract Various R.H.S 58 D Bract tips: Involucral Bract tips: R.H.S 5 B The outer- color colors (red-purple R.H.S. 34A bracts at R.H.S. 66D (yellow most involu- group) (orange-red opening are (red -pur- group). cral bracts of group). predomi- ple group). the bud ap- Bract base: nantly Bract base: pear as R.H.S. 21C R.H.S. 22A R.H.S. 155C R.H.S. 64 B (yellow- (yellow- (white (red-purple orange orange group). group). The group). group). Tip color rest of the Base color Upper in- dominates in bracts have dominates volucral all but in- an overall in inner- bracts nermost appearance most when bracts. of R.H.S. 58 bracts. flower head A (red-purple is mature group). The are pre- tips of the dominantly outer bracts R.H.S. 9A are R.H.S. (yellow 187 A group). (greyed- purple group). Bud Various R.H.S. 187 D R.H.S. 26A Bract tips: R.H.S. 160 R.H.S. 187 color colors (greyed-purple R.H.S. 187A D (greyed- A (greyed- group) (greyed- yellow purple group) purple group. group) Bract base: R.H.S. 67B (red-purple group) Leaf Puberulent Puberulent Puberulent Puberulent Puberulent Puberulent Puberulent Sur- and faces sparsely vil- lous, main veins are hirsute Suit- Good Good Good Good Good Good Good ability for pot culture Ease Generally Good Good Good Good Good Good of good forc- ing Growth Generally Compact Good Compact Compact Compact Compact habit compact

The distinguishing characteristics are retained by asexually reproduced, successive generations. The inventor, at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif., has asexually reproduced the new variety through three successive generations by means of cuttings and has found that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed remain firmly fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical potted-plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and bract color development from the bud stage to the mature flower head. The colors are represented as truly as possible using conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a potted plant of the new variety described herein, illustrating the overall form and appearance of the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a potted plant of the new variety described herein, illustrating the overall form and appearance of the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a mature flower head of the new variety.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a mature flower head of the new variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety. The new variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color designation and other values stated may deviate slightly from the stated values from flowering to flowering, but the deviations will be within the range expected from varying environmental, seasonal and cultural conditions. Color designations were made according to the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

The following description is based on observations of optimally fertilized plants grown in 6″ pots.

Cuttings were taken from mature plants and placed in cells. Plants were transplanted to 6″ pots approximately 6 to 8 weeks after root initiation occurred. The plants were then started in the green house for 2 to 3 weeks, pruned, and then moved outside for 10 to 12 weeks to bloom.

The observed plants were approximately 20 weeks old.

The plants were grown under glass in Half Moon Bay, Calif. The day time temperature in the green house where the plants were grown was kept between 65 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. The humidity was maintained at 90%.

-   The plant:     -   -   Name.—Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Havest Merlot’.         -   Origin.—Seedling.         -   Parentage.—Helichrysum bracteatum ‘Harvest Fire’, the             subject of a currently pending U.S. patent application, with             Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Raspberry’, the subject             of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,929. ‘Raspberry’ was the pollen             parent, and ‘Harvest Fire’ was the seed parent. p2             Classification.—Family. — Compositae. Tribe. — Inula. Genus.             — Helichrysum. Species. — Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum.             Commercial. — Strawflower.         -   Form.—Upright, compact, biennial herb.         -   Height.—Plant grown in 6″ pot is 35 cm.         -   Diameter.—Plant grown in 6″ pot is 35 cm.         -   Growth.—Upright, vigorous growth under glass with excellent             branching; easily forced to bloom without growth regulators.         -   Stems.—Texture. — Generally, stems are moderately pubescent             at their base; stems are very sericeous below the flower,             making for a glaucous appearance. Shape. — Stems have a             rectangular cross section below the base of the flower             becoming round at base. Size. — Stem width at top of plant             below the terminal flower head is 5 mm. The stem widens in             one direction to accommodate axilary stems, becoming             approximately 10 mm wide. Where stems meet the original             cutting, the stems are approximately 8 mm to 11 mm wide. The             diameter of the original cutting is 15 mm.         -   Foliage.—Quantity. — Abundant. Shape. — Linear; narrowly             acute; margins are entire by wavy so they appear repand;             pinnately veined. Size. — As large as 16 cm long by 30 mm             wide. Texture. — Viscid; main vein dominates on the             underside of leaf and is sunken on the leaf surface.             Pubescence. — Leaf surfaces are puberulent. Color. — Upper             leaf surface is R.H.S. 137A to 137 B (green group); lower             leaf surface is R.H.S. 137C (green group).         -   Disease resistance.—Roots appear to be disease resistant. -   The bud:     -   -   Form.—Conical, with imbricate involucral bracts.         -   Texture.—Smooth and glossy (waxy).         -   Rate of opening.—Slowly, and in layers, closing at night;             fully open in 2-3 weeks.         -   Involucral bracts.—Color. — Outermost involucral bracts are             R.H.S. 187 A (greyed-purple group). Aspect. — Thin, dry,             membranous. -   The inflorescence:     -   -   Form.—Flower head is discoid and solitary; usually 1 or 2             buds at the next leaf axis below which is usually 12 to 15             cm below.         -   Flower head size.—Diameter. — 55 mm. Disc floret portion             diameter: 24-25 mm.         -   Shape of the flower head.—Circular; involucral bracts are             numerous and imbricate.         -   Appearance of the flower head.—Showy.         -   Involucral bracts.—Form. — Involucral bracts are imbricate             in many rows. Involucral bracts are scarious and membranous,             but are brightly colored. The involucral bracts are deltoid,             enlarged and petal-like. Color. — The base of the outer             bracts are not pigmented. The pigmentation is the same for             both the abaxial and the adaxial sides of the bracts. The             outermost involucral bracts of the bud appear as R.H.S. 64 B             (red-purple group). The rest of the bracts have an overall             appearance of R.H.S. 58 A (red-purple group). The tips of             the outer bracts are R.H.S. 187 A (greyed-purple group).             Size and number. — Involucral bracts range from 10 mm to 20             mm long and 3 mm to 10 mm wide, and there can be as many as             100 involucral bracts on a flower head.         -   Disc florets.—Form. — Florets are all small, bisexual and             tubular. The corolla of the florets is usually 5-lobed.             Corolla is usually 7-9 mm long and glaucous (waxy). The             upper 3.5 mm of the corolla is usually brightly colored,             R.H.S. 24 A (orange group). Androecium. — There are usually             5 stamens borne on the corolla tube. The stamens, including             the anthers, are usually united into a tube around the style             and become highly reflexed from the point of separation. The             stamens protrude from the corolla. Pollen occurs on the             adaxial surface of the anthers. Gynoecium. — One pistil per             disc floret. The ovary is inferior, and approximately 2 mm             tall. The style is often branched. The style protrudes from             the corolla about 2 to 3 mm. There is a pappus with many             bristles. The bristles are approximately 8 mm long. Color of             the bristles is R.H.S. 10 D (yellow group).         -   Fragrance.—none.         -   Achenes.—The achenes rarely germinate. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Helichrysum plant, as illustrated and described. 